i think senator obama's vote was a mistake. if there is any truth in this town, it is that there is no dearth of blame to go around. host: how much time did you take to consider the caucus? guest: i did not make a decision during the campaign. i was asked a question almost exclusively by washington journalists. i was virtually never ask the question by people in maine. most people in maine did not care. they said, go down there and try to get something done. one guy yelled across the diner, i did not care who you caucus with. -- do not care who you caucus with. i am with you all the way. the first question was, could i be entirely independent, not join either caucus and be a free agent. that had some appeal, but based on my study of the senate rules, presidents, talking to knowledgeable people, that would have been almost impossible. i wouldn't have been very effective. then the question was, if you're going to caucus, which side. it was made easier because the democrats were in the majority. that may pragmatic sense. finally,